gridiron

American  

[grid-ahy-ern] / ˈgrɪdˌaɪ ərn /

noun

1. a football field.

2. a utensil consisting of parallel metal bars on which to broil meat or other food.

3. any framework or network resembling a gridiron.

4. a structure above the stage of a theater, from which hung scenery and the like are manipulated.

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verb (used with object)

1. to mark off into squares or design with a network of squares.

gridiron British  

/ ˈɡrɪdˌaɪən /

noun

1. a utensil of parallel metal bars, used to grill meat, fish, etc

2. any framework resembling this utensil

3. a framework above the stage in a theatre from which suspended scenery, lights, etc, are manipulated

4. 1. the field of play in American football

   2. an informal name for American football

   3. ( as modifier )

      a gridiron hero

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Etymology

Origin of gridiron

1250–1300; Middle English gridirne, gridir ( e ), gridere, variant of gridel griddle; variants in -irne, -ire, etc. are associated by folk etymology with ModE variant irne, ire iron

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Explanation

A gridiron is a metal grill used for cooking food over a fire. Don't throw your burgers on your friend's gridiron if she's a strict vegetarian! Just as the word implies, a gridiron is a grid, or two crossed sets of parallel bars, made of iron (or another kind of metal). In addition to cooking gridirons, there are also gridirons that support heavy equipment on film sets. In sports, gridiron is another name for an American football field, marked off in grid-like yard lines. Gridiron shares a Latin root with griddle.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gridiron

So even though Husted’s gridiron career ended decades ago, Trump indulged in lame fantasies about how he thinks a football player should look like, complete with broad shoulders and well-defined glutes.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

Whether Bo Bryan eventually fulfills his lifelong dream of succeeding on the Georgia gridiron, he is likely to make a mark in business if his predecessors are a fair indication.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

The gridiron offers no eternal comfort, but East of Eden we’ll always need strong and selfless men.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Tickets for the gridiron finale start at around $6,000, making them out of reach for the vast majority of undocumented people, who tend to work in low-paying jobs.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026

Aware of Odessa High’s frustration on the gridiron and the image problems it caused, the administration had tried to shift the focus of Odessa High away from football into other areas.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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Related Words

• course
• court
• golf course
• green
• park
• range
• stadium
• terrain
• track
• turf

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